Thousand Acres

What Thousand Acres does

Thousand Acres operates a premier semi-private golf and residential community centered on an 18-hole championship course on Deep Creek Lake in Swanton, Maryland. The course, designed by Craig Schreiner (ASGCA) and Bob Holcomb, plays to 7,211 yards from the longest tees at par 72, with five sets of tees accommodating all skill levels. The property spans roughly 1,200 acres with over eight miles of lake shoreline and includes a 12-trail hiking network covering more than five miles. As of 2022, three new holes had opened for play and the back nine was under construction, indicating the course is still completing its full 18-hole championship layout.

The business operates across multiple revenue streams. Public daily-fee golf is priced from $75 (late twilight weekday) to $185 (peak weekend/holiday full-day), with all rounds including GPS-equipped carts, water, and warm-up range balls. Membership tiers include Individual ($2,225 annual dues plus $10,000-$15,000 initiation), Couple ($3,350), and Family ($4,450 for up to four members), with Full, Basic, and Twilight season passes as alternatives. Residential real estate lots in developments such as Poland Run View and Cathedral Springs start at $125,000 and bundle mandatory Club Membership and Lake Access. Additional revenue comes from group golf getaway packages with concierge service, golf instruction and junior camps, pro shop merchandise, and equipment manufacturer demo days (TaylorMade, Tour Edge). The Grint 2025 ranked the club #1 Semi-Private Golf Course in Maryland and #14 of 200+ statewide.

Tech stack is intentionally light: GPS-equipped carts, Chronogolf for teetime booking, an iOS mobile app, and standard web analytics. The go-to-market combines direct public access, member acquisition, and a dedicated group/corporate outing channel. Operationally the company is structured as a private, privately-operated club with key leadership including General Manager Bob Raley (returning after originally serving as superintendent), Director of Golf Operations Craig Yutzy, and Director of Agronomy Tom Harshberger. Lakefront Enterprises, a local excavating contractor led by Bret Winegardener, serves as the primary construction partner for course expansion.

Name

Thousand Acres

Legal name

Thousand Acres Golf Club

Website

https://thousandacres.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Thousand Acres operates a semi-private 18-hole championship golf course and master-planned residential community on Deep Creek Lake in western Maryland, serving public golfers, annual members, group/outing clients, and residential lot buyers across the Mid-Atlantic region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Recreational Golf Club and Residential Community

NAICS

Golf Courses and Country Clubs (71391)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Golf Courses & Golf Facilities (MPAKAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Luxury Golf Resorts (THAGACAH), Golf Clubs & Tournament-Host Clubs (Professional/Elite Golf Clubs) (MPAKABAE)

Keywords

• Championship golf course
• Golf club membership
• Public green fees
• Golf real estate lots
• Group golf getaways

Headquarters

HQ city

Swanton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Public Green Fees: Daily fee golf open to the public with various pricing tiers based on day of week, time of day (twilight rates), and season. Peak season weekend rates at $185 per person including GPS-equipped cart, water, and warm-up range balls.
2. Golf Memberships: Annual memberships including Individual ($2,225 annual dues with $10,000-$15,000 initiation fee), Couple ($3,350 annual dues), and Family ($4,450 annual dues for up to 4 members). Members receive waived green fees, preferred tee times, cart discounts, and pro shop discounts.
3. Season Passes: Season pass alternatives to full membership including Basic Pass ($750 individual, $1,100 couple), Full Pass ($1,000 individual, $1,500 couple, $2,000 family), and Twilight Pass ($500 individual) with varying benefits.
4. Golf Events and Tournaments: Hosting member events including Flag Tournaments, Ladies League, Men's Drop-in Play, and corporate/group outings with dedicated concierge service.
5. Pro Shop and Lessons: Golf pro lessons with staff discount for members, pro shop merchandise sales with member discounts (10-20% depending on pass type).
6. Real Estate Lots: Golf course lot sales in developments including Cathedral Springs, Poland Run View, Sawmill Hollow, North Shore East/West, and Smith Pointe. Lots starting at $125K with club membership and lake access included.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Thousand Acres Golf Club operates a par-72, 7,211-yard championship golf course (designed by Craig Schreiner and Bob Holcomb) on Deep Creek Lake in Swanton, Maryland, offering daily-fee public play, annual memberships, season passes, group outings, golf instruction, and a pro shop. The company also markets lakefront real estate lots within its master-planned community and operates a 12-trail hiking network across the property.

Product overview

Thousand Acres operates as a premier golf and residential community centered around an 18-hole championship golf course (designed by Craig Schreiner and Bob Holcomb) located adjacent to Deep Creek Lake in Maryland. The core offering combines daily public golf access (with green fees from $75-$185) and membership programs (Individual/Couple/Family tiers from $2,225-$4,450 annual dues). Supporting products include real estate sales of golf course lots (starting at $125K), group golf getaway packages with concierge services, a 12-trail hiking network spanning 5+ miles, and golf instruction programs including junior camps and adult clinics. The community features four distinct lakefront developments: Sawmill Hollow, North Shore East, North Shore West, and Smith Pointe. The property also includes future amenities such as a clubhouse, sports courts, and restaurant.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Thousand Acres Championship Golf Course Par-72, 7,211-yard 18-hole championship golf course designed by Craig Schreiner and Bob Holcomb, with five sets of tees (Black, Blue, White, Silver, Gold, Red) catering to all skill levels. Located adjacent to Deep Creek Lake in Swanton, MD with mountain vistas. Available to both public daily-fee players and members.
• Annual Golf Memberships Annual club memberships in Individual ($2,225 dues + $10,000-$15,000 initiation), Couple ($3,350 dues), and Family ($4,450 dues for up to 4 members) tiers, providing preferred 7-9 AM tee times (10-day booking window), waived green fees, golf cart discounts, pro shop discounts, and member-only events. Targeted at frequent local golfers and families.
• Season Passes Annual season pass alternatives to full membership: Basic Pass ($750 individual / $1,100 couple, $0 green fees Sun-Thu after 2PM), Full Pass ($1,000 individual / $1,500 couple / $2,000 family, $0 green fees all days plus 7-9 AM preferred tee times), and Twilight Pass ($500 individual, $0 twilight green fees).
• Daily Green Fees & Public Golf Pay-as-you-go public golf access with tiered pricing: weekend/holiday peak $185, Thursday $140, weekday $125, twilight from $75, junior $65, off-season weekend $130 / weekday $90, with Local Appreciation rates for Garrett County residents, first responders, veterans, and seniors 60+. All fees include GPS-equipped cart, water, and warm-up range balls.
• Group Golf Getaway Packages Concierge-style group golf trip packages for groups of 12 or more, including coordinated tee time booking, dining and lodging recommendations, insider local tips, and discounted group rates. Larger groups of 32+ are coordinated through the Director of Golf. Targeted at corporate outings, golf clubs, and friend/family groups.
• Golf Course Residential Lots Luxury golf course home sites in five developments (Cathedral Springs, Poland Run View, Sawmill Hollow, North Shore East, North Shore West, Smith Pointe) with prices starting at $125K. Purchase includes club membership and lake access. Future amenities planned include clubhouse, sports courts, and restaurant. Targeted at second-home buyers and lake-region residents.
• Golf Instruction & Junior Programs Instructional offerings including adult golf clinics (90-minute sessions for all skill levels), 3-day Junior Golf Camps for ages 8-13 ($125 members / $150 non-members), social instruction events like Ladies Sip and Chip and Nine & Wine, and individual lessons from PGA professionals including Golf Pro Scott Gonder.
• Pro Shop & Equipment Services On-site golf pro shop selling equipment, apparel, and accessories, plus club rentals (available for group outings) and golf club repair services. Members receive 10-20% discounts depending on pass type. Operates 8AM-7PM daily weather permitting.
• On-Property Hiking Trails Network of 12 unique mapped hiking trails totaling 5+ miles on the Thousand Acres property, including Pink Trail (1 mile to Little Snaggy Mountain peak, 10% slope), Blue Trail (0.52 mile), Orange Trail (0.40 mile, 12% slope - steepest), Red Trail (0.9 mile), Yellow Trail (0.85 mile), and Logging Road (1.33 mile). Available to golfers, lot owners, and visitors.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked #1 Semi-Private Golf Course in Maryland
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lakefront EnterprisescoreOthersLocally owned excavating business in Swanton, MD led by Bret Winegardener. Constructed the first nine holes of Thousand Acres and is taking lead in back nine construction. Also constructed roads and development features within the Thousand Acres community. A true small business success story that has expanded into golf course construction.
• Deep Creek VacationsminorOthersVacation rental and tourism partner providing photos and video content for Thousand Acres website and marketing materials.
• RaileyminorOthersReal estate and vacation partner providing photos and video content for Thousand Acres marketing materials.
• The GrintcoreTechnology or IntegrationGolf ranking platform and tee time booking app. Ranked Thousand Acres #1 Semi-Private Golf Course in Maryland and #14 of 200+ in the state for 2025. Platform used for golf rankings and score tracking.
• Deep Creek Watershed FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNon-profit foundation hosting the Deep Creek Lake 100th Anniversary Par-Tee Golf Classic at Thousand Acres Golf Club.
• TaylormademinorGTM or Marketing PartnerGolf equipment manufacturer hosting demo days at Thousand Acres for members and guests to test new equipment.
• Tour EdgeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGolf equipment manufacturer hosting demo days at Thousand Acres for members and guests.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Troon Golf: Large third-party golf course management company operating hundreds of premium courses worldwide. Comparable luxury golf course management services and amenity positioning at scale.
• Pinehurst Resort: Legendary multi-course golf resort in NC offering championship golf, lodging, and real estate. Comparable premium destination golf model and pricing tier; significantly larger scale and brand recognition.
• Bandon Dunes Golf Resort: Destination golf resort in Bandon, OR offering multiple championship courses. Bob Holcomb (Thousand Acres designer) has construction credits here; useful benchmark for championship design quality and destination golf economics.
• Fallen Timber at The Four Seasons: Branded luxury resort with golf, lodging, and real estate components. Comparable high-end amenity mix and premium pricing tier; useful for benchmarking brand-driven pricing power in destination golf.

Regional players

• Wisp Resort: Four-season mountain resort located on the same Deep Creek Lake offering lodging, skiing, and a golf course (Lodestone Golf Club). Competes for the same destination traveler and second-home buyer at Deep Creek Lake.
• Nemacolin Woodlands Resort: Luxury destination resort in Farmington, PA with two championship golf courses, lodging, and real estate. Comparable premium positioning, similar drive-time catchment, and director-level talent (Craig Yutzy) came from this property.
• Rocky Gap Casino Resort: Maryland resort with a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course, lodging, and casino. Comparable destination-golf-plus-hospitality offering within the same state and customer demographic.
• Kingsmill Resort: Williamsburg, VA resort with championship golf (River Course), lodging, and real estate. Comparable Mid-Atlantic destination golf-plus-resort-real estate model within similar drive-time catchment.

Direct peers

• Whiskey Creek Golf Club: Semi-private championship golf club in Ijamsville, MD offering similar public-access-with-membership model, championship 18-hole course, and event hosting in the Mid-Atlantic. Direct competitor for Maryland golfers within driving distance of DC/Baltimore.
• Maryland National Golf Club: Public championship golf course in Middletown, MD with similar tee time pricing and Mid-Atlantic market positioning. Direct competitor for premium public-play golfers in the DC/Baltimore corridor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/thousandacresgolf
• Facebookfacebook.com/thousandacresgolf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thousand-acres

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Thousand Acres